Athlone IT sent a fancied Waterford IT side crashing out of the Sigerson Cup in Waterford yesterday.

Athlone's asserted their superiority in the second half, but the home side looked the better team for much of the first half. However, a total of nine wides from very scoreable positions and a tendency to overplay the ball in front of their opponents' goal proved very costly. In contrast, the Athlone attack made the better use of limited scoring chances.

A goal by Greg Ramsbottom put Waterford two points ahead in the 25th minute, but Athlone finished the half strongly with three points for a 0-7 to 1-3 interval lead. Within 10 minutes of the restart Athlone's lead had increased by three points and though Declan Browne pulled a point back for Waterford in the 41st minute, a tight Athlone defence, well marshalled by the inspirational James Rouine in the centre, gave nothing away.

A goal from a 45 by Waterford's Leigh O'Brien in the 53rd minute cut Athlone's lead to three points briefly before a tireless Kevin Gallagher set up the move which put Shane Conlisk in for the visitors' only goal in the 56th minute. That effectively wrapped the game up for Athlone and Stephen Lohan and Gallagher completed the scoring with a point each.

Athlone IT: G Comer; D White, J White, G Maguire; T Mortimer, J Rouine, F Murray; S Colleary (0-1), K Newell; P Mulhaire, B O'Brien, K Gallagher (0-3); S Conlisk (1-3), S Lohan (0-6), C Nelligan (0-1). Subs: S Maye (0-1) for O'Brien, G Johnson for Mulhaire.

Waterford IT: C Counihan; C Clear, B Malone, B Walsh; C Laverty, L O'Brien (1-0), R Breen; D Connolly, E Sheehy; M Sullivan, B Fitzpatrick, A Moloney; R Cosgrave (0-1), G Ramsbottom (1-1), D Browne (0-2). Sub: E Taffe for Cosgrove.

Referee: B White (Wexford).